Labels: Sister Jack Records
Review by: Ant Nation
“Right, you lowly scum! Which one of you wastes of skin is going to write some reviews for me to tear asunder with a big red pen at all the spelling and grammatical errors?” asked the Great Leader. “Yeah, I’ll have a go, Andy.” I meekly offered. “Okay, you lavender scented dildo, here’s some CDs. Get writing! And tell your mum she might want to get that itch looked at!” he barked. “Will do, skipper!” He’s so thoughtful. So CDs were sent and they arrived promptly. One month later no review, until…well…now. When I offered to do some reviews, Andy asked if there was any particular style that I liked or if there was any of the listed releases that I was interested in having a go of. I told him to send me anything because I think when it comes to reviewing someone’s work, you need to be completely impartial and have no opinion until you hit that play button. Rather a grand view of a process that may end with you going “Well that was shit” after it’s finished, I know. But maybe, just maybe you’ll get to hear something that just takes you completely by surprise and you’ll take a piece away with you after the review has been sent of. With that concept in mind, it must have just been pure luck that this album was the first of the pile to get listened to. I ambled into the kitchen, thinking “Well these bastard dishes aren’t going to do themselves!” so as always I slotted the Ipod into the docking station and got stuck in. For some reason, I decided “Ah may as well get it over with!” and put Collapse Under The Empire on. I was hooked straight away. It’s hard to describe something that just catches you. Especially when you’re not expecting it. (“You’re supposed to be doing a review so TRY and fucking describe it, you helmet!”) I knew it must be good because after I finished the dishes, I immediately started looking for other things to clean in the kitchen. Anything. Just anything so I could stay in there and listen to this album until it finished.
Collapse Under The Empire are an instrumental Post Rock/Alternative two piece. Post Rock? That’s usually artsy-fartsy pretentious wank isn’t it? Well it’s never been my bag but this isn’t artsy fartsy. This is almost cinematic in scope with all ideas of pretentiousness surgically removed. Imagine Appleseed Cast being asked to do the soundtrack for the upcoming Blade Runner sequel (Blasphemy! – the sequel that is) and you’re in the same area as what Collapse Under The Empire sound like. After listening to it, I did a little digging and found that they had made an appearance on one of the EMO Diaries compilations from Deep Elm. But at the same time composed the soundtrack for a short film “Sharks Don’t Cry” about the fight against the eradication of sharks. Another two reasons to like them. But that’s the thing, they’re part band, part soundtrack. And either hat fits them damn well. The album is epic in scope. It’s one of those instances where you can’t pick a favourite track. The album is a living, breathing whole. And I totally dig it. Usually instrumentals, in my view, are good for the background, while you are doing other things. But this just grabs your attention and becomes the focus. Some people might not get it and therefore might not appreciate it. And that’s fine too. I did and on my first album to review, I justified my reasons for wanting to do reviews. And my kitchen is spotless.